Himachal Pradesh is a state in the north-west india. Himachal Pradesh is spread over 21,629sq ml (56,019 km²), and is bordered by the Indian states of jamu and kashmire on north, Punjab on west and south-west, Haryana and UP on south, UK on south-east and by Tibet, China on the east. The literal meaning of Himachal Pradesh is Region of snowy mountains.

Himachal Pradesh was also known as Deva Bhoomi (the land of the gods). The Aryans influence in the region dates back to the period before the Rigveda. After the Anglo Gorkha war, the British colonial government came into power. It was initially part of Punjab, except the Siba State of Punjab Hills which was under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh until 1857. In 1950 Himachal was declared as a union territory but after the State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971, Himachal emerged as the 18th state of the Indian Union.

Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest per capita incomes of any state in India. Due to the abundance of perennial rivers, Himachal also sells hydro electricity to other states . The economy of the state is highly dependent on three sources: hydroelectric power, tourism and agriculture.

Hindus make up 95% of the state population, the most Hindu state (proportionally), in the country. According to a 2005 Transparency International survey, Himachal Pradesh is ranked the second-least corrupt state in the country after



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